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MassDOT

Heavy traffic expected for Labor Day weekend amid Orange Line shutdown

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Residents planning to hit the road for Labor Day weekend are urged to plan ahead, as Orange Line bus diversion routes and local road closures have led to heavier than average congestion on state highways.

“I think as we all know this is typically a very, very busy weekend,” said MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver in a Friday press call.

“We saw some extra volume within the Thursday commute overall, but especially in the afternoon, and like most holiday weekends, we are expecting that heavy travel times are going to continue.”

Gridlock that has been seen on interstates and primary routes, such as I-93, I-95, and Routes 1 and IA during the Orange and partial Green Line shutdowns — as motorists heed advice to avoid diversion routes — will also tie up roadways this weekend, Gulliver said.

Heavy congestion is expected on Friday afternoon, when many people begin their trips, and late Monday afternoon when they start making their way home, particularly on roads out of Cape Cod and those that link out-of-state travelers back to Massachusetts.

To mitigate traffic impacts, Gulliver said MassDOT has shut down some key construction sites and is shifting to a holiday schedule for carpool and swing lanes on highways.

Post-Labor Day travel is typically busy as well, he said, as people adjust to their new work and school schedules, but questions remain around what a post-COVID daily commute will look like in a largely remote world.

Summer traffic volumes are expected to continue this fall, but different drivers will be on the road, such as daily commuters rather than people traveling in and out of the city for leisure, and more buses and students to mark the start of the school year.

“We expect that there’s going to be an adjustment period over the next couple of weeks as everyday drivers return and start to settle into a new pattern,” Gulliver said. “This is something we have experienced in past years, but again with post-COVID, it’s not as predictable as it used to be.”

For example, he said many commuters have opted to travel during the midday and late afternoon hours to avoid the traditional peak times of morning and afternoon, which has spread out the volume of traffic.

“It’s a trend that has been making travel much, and commuting especially, much more manageable than it used to be,” Gulliver said. “It’s one of the congestion techniques that we had been really pushing pre-COVID that we hope is going to continue post-COVID.”

Overnight ramp and lane closures on Route 2 to last through Thursday

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FITCHBURG — The state Department of Transportation will implement overnight ramp and lane closures on Route 2 eastbound from exit 92 and exit 95 through Thursday.

The closures started Sunday and will last from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning. According to MassDOT, closures are needed to facilitate pavement milling along Route 2 and it’s on and off ramps.

The ramp closures and detours will be as follows:

Overnight on Monday, Aug. 15, the Route 2 eastbound exit 92 (Route 2A, Route 140) and exit 93 (Willard Road Village Inn Road) off ramps will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning. Traffic will be directed to continue along Route 2 eastbound, and use exit 94 (Narrows/Depot Road) to access Village Inn Road or Route 2 westbound back to exit 92. When the exit 92 on-ramp is closed, traffic will be directed to take Route 2 westbound and use exit 90A (West Main Street South Westminster), to reverse direction to access Route 2 eastbound.

Overnight on Wednesday, Aug. 17, the Route 2 eastbound exit 94 (Narrows/Depot Road) off-ramp will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Traffic will be directed to continue on Route 2 eastbound and use exit 95 (Route 31) in order to access Route 2 westbound back to exit 94. When the exit 94 on-ramp is closed, traffic will be directed to take Route 2 westbound and use exit 92 (Route 2A/Route 140), to reverse direction to access Route 2 eastbound.

Overnight on Thursday, Aug. 18, the Route 2 eastbound exit 95 (Route 31) off-ramp will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Traffic will be directed to continue on Route 2 eastbound and take exit 98 (Merriam Avenue) and follow the detour signs in place to reverse direction onto Route 2 westbound to access exit 95. When the exit 95 on-ramp to Route 2 eastbound is closed, traffic will be directed to use Route 2 westbound and take exit 94 (Narrows/ Depot Road) to reverse direction to access Route 2 eastbound.

For more information on traffic conditions, MassDOT encourages drivers to:

— Dial 511 and select a route to hear real-time conditions.

— Visit www.mass511.com, a website that provides real-time traffic and incident advisory information and allows users to subscribe to text and email alerts for traffic conditions.

— Follow MassDOT on Twitter @MassDOT to receive regular updates on road and traffic conditions.

— Download MassDOT’s GoTime mobile app and view real-time traffic conditions before setting out on the road.

Jenny Raitt brings listening skills, track record to NMCOG

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LOWELL — In the alphabet soup of local, state and federal agencies, perhaps only the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments has a key role defined as that of convener, which is government speak for listening, engaging and collaborating.

NMCOG is one of 13 regional planning agencies within the commonwealth, and serves the communities of Lowell, Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Pepperell, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro and Westford.

Since her July appointment as the new executive director of the public organization, Jenny Raitt has been doing a lot of convening, holding listening sessions with all nine of NMCOG’s partner communities.

On Tuesday, she held a listening session with Lowell leadership, including City Manager Tom Golden, Director of Planning and Development and Assistant City Manager Christine McCall, and others. City Councilor Daniel Rourke is a member of the NMCOG board, which is made up of three members of each community: a chief elected official, a planning board member and an alternate.

Projects that the agency has worked on previously have included the widening of Route 3, the creation of the Bruce Freeman Trail and the creation of the Nashua River Trail in Pepperell and Dunstable.

As the previous director for planning and community development for Arlington, Raitt managed a $2.5 million budget and several grant programs including the Community Development Block Grant. She implemented the town’s Master Housing Plan, the Arts and Culture Action Plan, Net Zero Action Plan, Connect Arlington Sustainable Transportation Plan and the town’s 2022 Housing Plan.

In an exclusive interview, The Sun sat down with Raitt at her Church Street offices to discuss NMCOG’s role, her goals for the agency and insight into how the organization can build on its work over the past six decades.

SUN: What’s your “elevator pitch” for what NMCOG does?

RAITT: We’re a regional planning agency on a suite of issues, such as transportation, economic development, housing, environmental planning and municipal services for the Greater Lowell area. But our main purpose is to support our partner communities. We are the go-to place where local leaders can learn about and get the tools they need to take next steps for their projects. That’s absolutely what the agency can do and has done.

SUN: What is your background for this work?

RAITT: I graduated UMass Amherst with a major in urban planning and documentary studies, and from the New School in New York with a master’s in nonprofit management and urban policy. In addition to other positions, I served as the director for the department of planning and community development in the town of Arlington for the previous 6 ½ years.

SUN: What has changed since you were in school?

RAITT: My whole trajectory has been local housing, community development and planning. But I think the difference between school work and real-world work is how you get things done.

The most important “how” part is co-creating and inviting other people to the process to be a stakeholder in the work. And that’s what I’m looking to do here both internally, and as we grow and evolve in our work in the region.

SUN: What hasn’t changed since you were in school?

RAITT: What hasn’t changed is that a lot of our laws, such as zoning, programs and rules are still the same, for better or worse. And in some cases, I think there could be changes that would better reflect the future that we all want to have, and frankly, could better reflect the role of a regional planning agency. Having regions working together is really critical in light of those challenges.

SUN: In your listening sessions, what common themes are you hearing?

RAITT: I’m still working my way through the communities, but definitely infrastructure such as water, sewer and transportation. I think of environmental issues as being part of infrastructure, which we need to think about it as being resilient. If we’re going to build or rebuild things, it’s all about resiliency.

Housing is another theme. Everything from regional homelessness to looking at rental and homeownership opportunities, as well concerns about different scales of development including commercial development.

Municipal stability is another concern. We need to continue to find ways to keep the communities working together and engaged for greater efficiencies and collaboration.

SUN: What kind of support does NMCOG provide partner communities?

RAITT: Often, towns and cities just call us, but we also reach out actively to our communities. We have the perspective of what’s going on more broadly in the region, and we also have the expertise to help at the local level. So, if there’s only one town planner, we can provide support to writing or redrafting zoning. Our work is supporting people who are working in the community — that’s what we do here.

SUN: What are some of the “tools” in your toolkit available to your partner communities?

RAITT: We use a lot of information technology tools such as geographic information system mapping, which can create visual maps of things like heat islands relating to climate resiliency. We can help analyze data. We can connect local communities to broader regional goals, advocacy, funding and cultural economic development opportunities.

SUN: Where does your funding come from?

RAITT: Part of our funding comes from an assessment on our local communities. We receive funding directly from MassDOT (Department of Transportation), and technical contracts from the Department of Fish and Wildlife. We also received Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding.

SUN: Is there one issue that equally impacts all of the NMCOG communities?

RAITT: We’re going to go through an administrative change at the state level. That brings with it new opportunities, new resources and new guidance on a lot of the work that we’re doing especially at the regional level, but definitely applicable to our municipalities.

A new governor has a really interesting opportunity to firm up the housing and economic development and planning work that is happening across the state.

We’re in a really important position to help our communities work through that and be their resource, the convener, as well as their guide.

SUN: Any last thoughts you would like to share with our readers about NMCOG?

RAITT: All of our meetings are open to the public. In my listening sessions, I’m hearing that NMCOG has been a very reliable partner to work with. I’m excited for my new role, to meet lots of people and to build on a great foundation to take our work to the next level.

Local municipalities receive millions in state funding for street, sidewalk improvements

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Lowell, Fitchburg and 136 other local municipalities will receive a total of $16.4 million through the state’s Shared Streets and Spaces Program, which will fund improvements to streets, curbs and parking areas in the interest of public health and safety.

The 184 awards, which the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker announced Tuesday, specifically aim to slow down cars to improve street safety and make effective improvements to existing transportation infrastructure. The money will go to cities and towns, as well as seven regional transit authorities.

It is the program’s largest round of funding since it was launched in June 2020, and just over 30% of recipients have never received funding through the Shared Streets and Spaces program before.

Here are some of the local municipalities that received grants for construction projects this funding round:

Fitchburg was awarded $199,646.64 for sidewalk improvements from Reingold Elementary School to Oak Hill Road, following previous Safe Routes to School efforts.

In Leominster, its $200,000 in grant funding will narrow travel lanes, widen sidewalks, improve crosswalks and install bike parking in an effort to create a safe space for bikers, walkers and those participating in downtown events.

Methuen partnered with the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority to install new bus stops with shelters, pedestrian signs and wayfinding, benches, crosswalks and curb extensions across a 0.6-mile portion of Lower Broadway with its $392,659.

The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority received $180,000 for 12 bus stop shelters powered by solar. The authority partnered with Athol, Fitchburg and Gardner.

Pepperell will use $200,000 for rectangular rapid-flashing beacons with LED signs at the Nashua River Rail Trail crossing at Groton Street, expanded sidewalks on Main Street that will create room for benches, outdoor dining, planters and directional signage.

Tyngsboro received $134,722 to install an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant walkway to bridge a residential neighborhood and the town’s commercial district, bus routes and beach. The town will also improve an intersection’s safety by realigning a roadway and will install a bus shelter and bike rack for users of the Lowell Regional Transit Authority Route 10.

Bedford, which was granted $42,350 for ADA-compliant curb ramps, as well as the installation of a crosswalk, rectangular rapid-flashing beacons at pedestrian crossings and signage on North Street near the Bedford Farms Ice Cream, which is a high-traffic zone.

Concord received $197,663.75, which will go toward slowing car traffic at the Malden and Walden streets intersection utilizing signs, new sidewalk, “traffic calming” and improved pavement markings, according to a press release.

Additionally, a number of area cities and towns earned grants for the purchase of equipment, including the following:

Lowell earned $50,000 for traffic calming equipment, which includes speed humps and chicanes, or curves placed on top of roadways that aim to slow traffic.

Both Leominster and Littleton were awarded funding for snow removal equipment — Leominster with $50,000 and Littleton with $22,728.

Dracut received $26,000, which will pay for crossing signals and pedestrian-activated warning devices.

Five area communities received funding for speed feedback/messaging signs: Fitchburg, $47,000; Tewksbury, $23,548; Harvard $22,191; Ashby, $14,640; and Lunenburg, $6,708.

Ashburnham received $9,799 to buy snow removal equipment for pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

Bedford, with $49,999, will purchase snow removal equipment and speed feedback/messaging signs.

“With speeding and speeding-related crashes becoming more and more prevalent as we emerge from the pandemic, safety and driving at appropriate speeds has never been so important,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler. “Many of the projects funded in this grant round will make our streets safer for everyone, whether they are walking, bicycling, taking public transportation or driving.”

Tewksbury, Pepperell among towns to receive Complete Streets funding

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BOSTON — Tewksbury and Pepperell are among 16 communities across the commonwealth set to receive a total of $5.54 million in state funding for transportation infrastructure.

On Thursday, the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker announced the award, which is part of the fiscal 2023 first round of grants for the Complete Streets Funding Program that will promote infrastructure projects for bicyclists, pedestrians and others using public and private transportation.

The Complete Streets Funding Program aims to support municipalities in establishing safe and reliable transportation structures for all residents and teach communities how to incorporate specific safety measures. The program is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

Tewksbury and Pepperell will each receive $400,000 for their respective infrastructure plans.

In Tewksbury, the grant funding will go toward filling pedestrian network gaps between Andover Street and Fiske Street.

Officials in Pepperell aim to add crosswalks, sidewalks and “rectangular rapid flashing beacons,” according to a press release. The town will also make improvements to the shape of the roundabout at routes 111 and 113.

Municipalities can apply for up to $400,000 for their construction projects, which can include bicycle lanes, pedestrian signals at crosswalks or intersections, street lighting, sidewalks and “multimodal paths.”

Of the $5.54 million total funding, about 60% will be used in “environmental justice communities,” places where the median household income is no greater than 65% of the statewide median, at least 25% of residents identify as a race other than white and at least 25% of households have no family members older than 14 years old who only speak English or speak the language very well, according to the press release.

The Complete Streets Funding Program launched in 2016 and has since worked alongside 252 municipalities to establish a local Complete Streets policy.

Gov. Baker said he recognizes the positive impact the state program has made over the past six years.

“The Complete Streets Funding Program has now awarded over $83 million in total funding through 444 technical assistance and construction awards since 2016 to support municipalities in their ongoing efforts to improve their transportation infrastructure, build safe, convenient and easily accessible transportation networks and to facilitate economic development opportunities,” Baker said in a statement. “This program continues to advance mobility and connectivity throughout the Commonwealth.”

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito expressed her support for the funding and said it serves a vital role in communities in Massachusetts.

“Complete Streets are for everyone and provide important opportunities for communities to achieve their unique needs and goals,” Polito said in a statement. “Programs like this support safe connectivity and increased economic activity throughout local neighborhoods and we look forward to seeing this progress in the future.”

Jamey Tesler, transportation secretary and CEO of MassDOT, said residents are in need of critical transportation infrastructure, and Complete Streets addresses that need.

“MassDOT is pleased to continue to work with municipal leaders to encourage the installation of infrastructure to help make for ‘Complete Streets’ everywhere,” Tesler said in a statement. “We want everyone in every city and town in the Commonwealth to have sidewalks, crosswalks, and other features which make it easy and safe to get to where they want to go.”

More information on the Complete Streets Funding Program is available at masscompletestreets.com.

‘People are driving recklessly’: More than 400 people died on Massachusetts roads last year, a 19% spike from 2020

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More than 400 people died on Bay State roads last year, a “troublesome” major spike from previous years as a growing number of daredevils recklessly speed, drive impaired and fail to wear seat belts, according to state data.

The state Department of Transportation’s traffic-related-fatality data shows that 408 people died on Massachusetts roads in 2021. This includes drivers, passengers in vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians.

The 408 deaths is a 19% spike from the 2020 tally of 343 fatalities. The total surpassing 400 deaths is more crash fatalities than any year since 2009.

“We’re dealing with an epidemic of traffic fatalities in this country, and it’s getting worse every year,” said Mark Schieldrop of AAA Northeast. “It’s really discouraging to see we’re on the uptick.

“People are driving recklessly,” he added. “Speeding is such a big issue … People need to refocus on their driving and think of it as a job.”

Speeding has shot up since the start of the pandemic, when lockdowns went into effect and roads emptied out. Massachusetts State Police have clocked drivers going over 100 mph in several instances over the past two years.

“A lot of it has to do with riskier behavior,” MassDOT Safety Engineer Bonnie Polin said of the significant rise in fatalities, calling the upward trend “troublesome.”

Other major factors were people driving while impaired and not wearing seat belts, she said.

There was a dramatic increase in motorcycle deaths in 2021. Eighty motorcycle operators and passengers died last year, a 38% jump from 58 deaths in 2020. State officials have created a subcommittee to look at motorcycle fatalities.

“Deaths are unacceptable,” Polin said. “We are not going to live with 408 fatalities, or even 350 fatalities or less. We really want to strive to get to zero. It might not be possible next year, but we’re going to really bring everyone together to try and get to zero.”

Massachusetts has a lower seat-belt usage rate than Connecticut, Schieldrop noted. The Bay State rate is around 78%, while Connecticut’s rate is in the mid-90% range. Massachusetts only has a secondary seat-belt law, while Connecticut has a stricter primary seat-belt law — that means people in Connecticut can be pulled over simply for not wearing one, while in Massachusetts the cops would need another reason to make a traffic stop.

“Every driver should make sure all of their passengers are buckled up, that they won’t move from park to drive unless every passenger’s seat belt is clicked,” Schieldrop said.

Drivers need to undergo a major behavioral change while out on the roads, said Emily Stein, president of Safe Roads Alliance. Many operators don’t think of other drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians they share the roads with, she said.

“We don’t have a good attitude when we get behind the wheel,” Stein said, adding, “We need drivers to understand that driving is not a right. It’s a privilege, and you have the power to take away someone’s life.”

Roadway design is also an important factor, according to Josh Ostroff of Transportation for Massachusetts. Wider lanes, for instance, lead people to drive faster, he said.

“A 12-foot wide travel lane is suitable for an interstate, but on an urban street less width is preferable,” Ostroff said. “People will react to having less space and travel slower.”

Polin of MassDOT also emphasized the importance of designing roads differently to help reduce speeding on some roads.

The state has to “design around the mistakes people make,” she said.

“People could get in a car and drive, and they’re impaired,” Polin said. “They could be stupid and do those kinds of things, but we need to put rumble strips out there. We need to give them guidance.

“We need to put in wrong-way signs on interstates because people do get on the highway going the wrong direction — whether it’s because they’re impaired or whether they’re fatigued or it’s not clear to them,” she added. “We have to take it upon ourselves to help them, to guide people who do make mistakes.”